As the most powerful maritime force in the world, the US Navy has a significant presence in almost every corner of the world and is able to exercise military influence over every ocean.Nevertheless, US carriers and warships able to deploy reconnaissance aircraft are limited, which restricts the US capabilities to efficiently gather intelligence in every sector of the globe.If every US warship could deploy reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, the entire planet would be within range of the US, which could acquire immediate intelligence and keep an eye on possible conflicts as they develop.To accomplish such a specific goal, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, also known as DARPA, is funding and coordinating the ambitious TERN project.If the program succeeds, groundbreaking reconnaissance drones will be able to launch from even the smallest of ship’s decks, giving the United States unprecedented access to every corner of the world.